[Your Class [Nature's Partner in the Dance] has reached lvl 122, +4 Free Points, +8 Speed, +4 Endurance, +15 Intelligence, +16 Focus, +2 Dexterity, +14 Mana, +16 Willpower, +2 Fortitude.]

[Your class Skill [Arcane Mastery] has reached lvl 111-> 113.]

[Your class Skill [Mana Perception ] has reached lvl 113.]

[Your class Skill [Focal Mana Trance] has reached lvl 101.]

[The general Skill [Dodging] has reached lvl 103.]

[The general Skill [Premonition] has reached lvl 107-> 109.]

Yeah, guessing those trajectories was quite the task.

[The general Skill [Maintained Magic] has reached lvl 89-> 90.]

[The general Skill [Martial Instinct] has reached lvl 80-> 81.]

[The general Skill [Divided Attention] has reached lvl 25-> 30.]

Modest danger, plenty of effort, adequate results. I can't complain.

But I'm tired.

"What's taking her so long?" I pull the cape tighter around me, sitting on a beach just outside the Mana Department.

It's a lot of gold we're talking about so I'm willing to sit here and wait as long as it takes. But if she lied and dipped… Oh, I'll start burning things down like the thugs back in Solermo until I have my money.

That was a hard-won victory. I fought with basically both my hands tied back and one of my ankles broken but I'd say I did… okay. There were a few hiccups, like how I held back using inscriptions, looking for the perfect opportunity, or that I didn't try disrupting Yvonne's spells.

Theoretically, I could've injected some of my mana into her own gathering force to mess up the whole thing. Theoretically… I never truly tried that because the window of opportunity is ridiculously small.

But once she whipped out those sentient spells, I thought I was done for. Tamers are a thing. Fighting outnumbered is basically second nature to me by now, and as we've learned, summoning creatures is also a thing.

What Yvonne did was closer to giving mana a pseudo mind. Something that is like a soul, but most definitely not a soul. It's fascinating, honestly.

I wonder if I could somehow use that for inscriptions… Self-replicating and optimizing inscriptions… Nah, that's ridiculous.

"But is it the same thing even?" I play with my hair, losing myself on the bench as if no one else existed in the world. "I can't say for certain Yvonne wasn't controlling the snakes, but I can't see myself, or anyone else, controlling three bodies with one mind. Not that smoothly at least…"

The shell of the light snakes prevented me from peering into them and once they scattered, I caught merely a glimpse of their innards. A glance, in the middle of a losing battle, mostly out of sight…

"Abyss damn it, all I have is a hunch again." I growl and wriggle like an angry worm.

"Don't you look like a miserable pile of crap?" The voice I want to hear the least right now asks.

Looking up, I see a cursed pair of August and Victor both of them smirking and looking at me curiously. They probably snuck up on me while my mind was elsewhere. Not that it required much sneaking.

"Bad timing guys." I shake my head, not even denying the words about my looks. "I just had the displeasure of dealing with the newest pain in the ass so spare me today."

"Would you?" Victor asks.

And I live with my right to silence.

"Just as I thought." He sighs, and then his gaze freezes on me. "That cape…"

"Said pain in the ass."

"Now I understand." He says with a tired smile. It seems I'm not the only one acquainted with Yvonne. "So you paid a visit to the Mana Department… How do you like the place?"

"I-" Now, how should I phrase this… "I like the place but the people are assholes."

"You seem different." August finally opens his mouth, only to say something dumb again.

"Tired? Dirty? Pretty?" Wait, I shouldn't have said that last one…

August, however, does not pounce at the opportunity and only scratches his chin. "Uncertain." He says.

That's… weirdly accurate, actually. I have no clue how to crack the code on that purple mana, or my gift from the spirits. And I don't have the time to waste because while I'm doing nothing, Val is-

"Ah, Val." I rediscover the source of my current plight. "Let's just say she is pulling ahead, fast."

"Fuck me." Victor turns away. "Can't you guys slow down a little?"

"You feel like you're falling behind." August states and I don't deny it. "I used to look at you the same."

"Why the past tense?" I snicker, after all the gap between us had only widened.

I'm a good thirty levels ahead of him, with plenty of feats and experience under my belt. My Skills are top notch I'd say and in about a week, I'll advance my second Class. If I need to work hard, then August needs a deal with the devil.

"Because you died Eli." His words freeze the atmosphere without beating around the bush. "We lost you and we had to accept that you won't be around anymore. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that things are back to normal but… things can never be truly back to normal."

I'm usually quick to respond and Victor is a master at defusing situations but this time we're left speechless. We just stare ahead of ourselves in a painfully awkward silence because there's nothing to say. It's true, all of it.

I was gone and they had to move on. And I can't fault them for it… Heck, I would've been angry if they moped around and wasted their lives while I fought tooth and nail.

But it's still uncomfortable the hear it said out loud.

"So what am I supposed to do?" After a long while, I finally ask.

"Is it important?" August asks but I only give him a confused shrug. "Is there a reason why you need to catch up, or is it just your pride?"

This fucker knows me a little too well. Is there some pride in the vile concoction driving me forward beyond what's reasonable or healthy? Absolutely. I can't stand even the thought of losing another duel or listening to Val boasting for months.

But that much I could endure somehow. But if… no, when we set out to fulfill her promise and by extension my promise, we'll act independently. No fist, or parents, or any caretakers, as we travel through Eborden, actively looking for trouble.

I can't afford to lose out there… not a fight, and most definitely not Val.

"It is." I answer with absolute conviction.

The boys' eyes meet almost as if guided by a higher force and they sigh as one.

"Then what's there to think about?" Victor asks mockingly. "Or are you looking for permission to do something stupid?"

These bastards…

"No need, I already did."

"Are you talking about your stunt yesterday? Half the school was listening to the clouds rumble. You sure were going fast." He shakes his head, giggling to himself.

"No… that's a different one." I answer, and nod behind their back.

Yvonne took her sweet time but she's finally here. Changed into new clothes, her hair brushed, her skin clean and without the slightest blemish… In comparison, I look like a beggar who got mogged and beaten in an alley.

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"Princess." Victor does a derisive bow to greet the new arrival.

"You missed the debate." August points out, although I have no idea what he's referring to.

They're acquainted, it seems, and not exactly on jovial terms. Although none of us from Karon Fort are exactly the social butterflies…

"It's not like I missed out on anything. It's always the same anyway, and real war strategy is hardly as useful nowadays as it used to be." Yvonne shrugs. "Plus, I was busy."

"Yeah, busy getting your ass kicked. I was beginning to fear you were all talk and actually poor." I greet her the only way she deserves.

"Remember who you're talking to." She simply throws the hefty pouch at me, jingling with golden goodies, happiness. Before leaving, Yvonne looks at me and asks. "So, no grudges?"

Good to know I didn't make any new enemies today. There's already a lot more of those than people could even remotely call allies. With that said…

"Yeah, nah." I snicker. "You were a real bitch back then and I'm not good at this forgiveness bullshit. I'm not the type to let bygones be bygones this easily."

Wrong answer perhaps, but it's a fact.

A visage of surprise and minor outrage paints a bleak picture of my response before Yvonne opens her mouth. "Thank the Gods… I'm so not done with you, you know. Today was supposed to be my day, but no… You just had to waltz in, make me lose money, and even smash my righteous payback!?"

"Righteous my ass! You were match-fixing and bullying those halfwits. And getting the crowd involved was such a dirty move." I let get rid of all the shackles of etiquette and start talking down to a high noble.

"What did you want me to do?" She throws her arms in the air like any common kid. "You looked like an angel of destruction and I was on a winning streak. Besides, you're the cheat so stop complaining."

I don't like her, she reminds me a little of me. People like me are difficult to tolerate because similar poles repel each other, or whatnot. Clashes are inevitable and bothersome so it's best we end it here.

"One more thing." Yvonne turns back a second time. "Can I get my cape back? It's custom-made."

Because, of course, it is… But this is my chance.

"On one condition." I can't stop the grin from taking over my face.

"Forget it, I don't want to-"

"It's not like that." Perhaps a little belatedly but I realise I need to be a little more specific and less creepy. "I just want to see that light snake spell you used. There's something I'm curious about."

"Is that really it?" She asks, warily.

"With her? It is." Victor stands up for me for once. Although I don't exactly appreciate his tone.

"But don't make it a gentle one." I further detail my demand.

All I have to give in exchange are the cape or the money – and I'm unwilling to part with the latter – so I only have one shot. Or maybe a few more if I ask nicely… let's just do my best on the first try.

"Trying to learn my tricks to get a headstart… How shameless." Yvonne shakes her head, her eyes gleaming dangerously… but the boys only sigh. They already know. "Look closely, I'll only do it once. As you might guess, it devours my mana…"

Yeah, no secrets were revealed there.

The moment she raises a hand and the first mote of light gathers from thin air, I lean forward and look. Mana Perception, Focal Mana Trance, and even Divided Attention to focus more than all my attention on the magic.

Time almost slows to a crawl in my sights. My brain feels like it's boiling, my eyes itch, and I completely forget to even breathe… but I don't blink.

First, a mix of arcane and light mana seems to outline the skeletal structure, similar to normal arcane magic, except this thing is overflowing with light. Spine growing twisting like a whip, hundreds of ribs down its entire length, a skull, and then light begins to fill in the gaps.

But not before another pocket of mana settles in the head. It's inconspicuous, almost indistinguishable from the rest of the building blocks if not for its… pulsing, like a heart. The mana expands and contracts, sucking in every breath of energy around it and growing ever deeper. The anomaly disappears as quickly as it emerged, blinking into the void after less than a second of wonder.

But then a tiny star emerges in its place. A purple spark of mana that does not seem to bend to any rules and spreads its thin tendrils through the body still in the process of forming. Sadly, motes of light grow over the skull and begin to form a resistant outer layer…

However, I'm not done looking.

As if guided by an ancient instinct, I coat my fingers with a layer of pure mana and plunge it into the searing body of blazing light. Caution and care have long left the room and I hardly even flinch as the heat chews on my skin.

It's light we're talking about, but I still meet some resistance before closing my finger and pulling my hand back out.

"Are you insane?" Yvonne lets the spell crumble at the gruesome sight of my hand.

It's burned, badly, but I hardly hear her – partially due to the pain and my growl – staring into my palm with mesmerized eyes.

[The general Skill [Savant] has reached lvl 90.]

This is not mana. It sure acts like mana, and undoubtedly interacts with mana but… I know mana, I know mana very well, and this is not it.

[The general Skill [Savant] has reached lvl 91.]

It's hungry, unruly, and doesn't like it here. Even through the burning pain of my blistering skin and layer of mana I can feel it poking at its surroundings. Even though Yvonne already cut her connection, this thing refused to obey.

[The general Skill [Savant] has reached lvl 92.]

But it's not alive, not in the way I or a roach are.

[The general Skill [Savant] has reached lvl 93.]

It's magical but not mana, independent but not alive, a source of energy without a direction…

[The general Skill [Savant] has reached lvl 94->95.]

"You see this?" I mutter while the others fuss around me.

"Yeah, your hand is medium-rare." Victor tries to asses my injuries but I pull away.

"Do you really not see it?" I finally lift my gaze, only to see no surprise or any curiosity in their eyes.

When my gaze returns, I see the purple spark already fading into nothingness. I can feel the mana it was made from untie itself into our reality, and do my best to delay the effect. This is such a rare opportunity.

Stuffing the mana back into it does nothing. Trying to prevent any more from seeping out of it doesn't work either. Nothing I can do does even comes close to influencing the purple speck or preventing its disintegration.

However, in a last, desperate bid, I try to crawl into it. It's tiny, smaller than a grain of sand but my conscience is somehow able to get a grip on the thing and… lose itself in an image of depthless, twisted madness.

For a split second, I felt small and almost as if someone turned me inside out, made a basket out of my skin, and filled it with everything I'd ever experienced. I was both here and not here at the same time, just like that purple spark.

Something beyond us and connected to all that's magic. It is what attracts mana to the soul.

[The general Skill [Savant] has reached lvl 96.]

Then it's finally gone and I let my Skills slip, staring ahead of me blankly… Only for a tag team of terrible headaches and my mangled nerves in my hand to ambush me. My vision blurs and I grit my teeth, prepared to just endure it all as usual, when Savant expands my understanding of the cogs that keep the world in motion.

Although this one is a little different. The last thing I see is a bunch of hands reaching for me before my mind shuts off and I get off easy.

***

When I open my eyes again, everything is good. I'm in an armchair, in a tiny, homey room somewhere… There's also a blanket on me, and nothing hurts so that's already a double win. I feel like an old grandpa who fell asleep after lunch and this does make me want to stay a little longer.

"Getting lazy already, Eli?" I ask myself out loud. "Is two days of hard work all you've got? Slacking off and lying about..."

Yeah, that thought does piss me off a little.

Before rising from the chair, however, I lift my hand from under the blanket, only sigh in relief when I find it healthy and whole. Reaching into fire was a dumb idea, but I don't regret it, I think.

"But there was one more thing…" I mutter and nudge my Status to show itself.

And it's there.

[Congratulations, you've unlocked the Class Skill [Etherinity's Spark lvl 1]. Would you like to assign the skill to an empty slot?]

Etherinity's Spark: No mortal was supposed to touch the aether, the essence of reality, and yet you still forced yourself into its secrets. You are not yet worthy to truly wield the enigmatic force, but no longer alien to it either. Your authority is but a tiny spark, use it well.

Uh-hum.

"Wow." I like the Skill enough to even vocalize it.

What does it do? I don't know, the description tells me little about how it works… and yet I'll still take it. I'd literally stab myself in the eye if I didn't.

"Uh, this will suck." I sigh as there are no empty slots.

Yet.

[Your Skill [Rhythmic Strides lvl 84] has been forfeited.]

Since the Skill has been with me for a while and I've advanced it to this extent, dropping it truly sucks. Almost as if something grabbed a part of my being and mercilessly tore it out, leaving only nausea and depressing discomfort behind.

But I already have something to plug that gap.

[Congratulations, you've acquired the Skill [Etherinity's Spark lvl 1].]

Do I know all the more about what exactly this glue of the word or whatever is? Not quite. It's not the soul itself but rather the fuel and feelings that form the entire thing. If I had to summarize it in one word, it'd be desire.

Now that I think about it, I do shape spells according to my desires. Changing the matter, using the mana, guided by… this. But that's still not everything.

And a name… aether.

"Well… then it's only the good old trial and error left." I reluctantly throw the blanket off and get up on my noodle legs. "Just how long have I been sleeping here?" I stretch and groan and feel around my waist and… "It's gone." I conclude, my voice like a whisper.

There's no pouch, no coin, no nothing. All the previous jovial atmosphere around me is gone now as I tear the chair and blanket apart vehemently in search of my hard-earned money. But the result remains the same, no matter how much I beg or tremble with fury.

"Victor!" I shout at the top of my throat.

He's the first culprit that comes to mind, and if my suspicion is proven correct… At least that gold will pay for his funeral.

"Stop yelling the Abyss damn it!" A youthful demikin, wearing a white robe and gloves, barges into my tiny room. "If you're feeling so healthy, then leave already! No need for checkups, shoo!"

Ah, I've probably been brought to the healer.

"Sorry." I bow my head slightly and slink away.

Finding myself on the winding corridors of the main building, I sigh and begin trodding in a random direction. Because I have no clue how I'll get back to the dorms. Through the windows, all I see is the night sky, and I hear no clamors of activity.

It's already night, the weekend is over, exams are coming soon, and there's still so much to do…

"Man life sucks." I stomp louder and pick up the pace.

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